Mercedes-Benz DB605 Late War Documentation

[schwarze-man]

Members may be interested that in the last 30 years or so, the original technical documentation of WW2 German Aero-Engines has become much more widely available and so, better understood by everyone with an interest in the subject. This has mainly been due to the tremendous efforts of enthusiasts and technical specialists. The documentation has now reached a high point of availability on the Internet and also, through reproduction that is commercially available. However, there are serious gaps in the documentation of some late war versions of the DB605. This documentation would include anything that references the subject engine types. I would like to use this post as a request to discuss this further with interested members of this forum.
Some of this documentation may be held by individual enthusiasts, by those who do not know what it is and also, in official records or libraries or even, in bric a brac shops. Whatever the case, it would benefit everyone if this information is discovered and not lost. The information would include, Engine Handbook, Parts List, Overhaul Manual and other titles, including manufacturing instructions. Complicating the discovery of such material is the fact that many official German technical documents in the late war period after Autumn '44 were issued without the drawings or illustration that would often normally show their subject. Fortunately, the engine designation, such as DB605D, will often feature in the title page and document references and so make the discovery possible.
From my personal perspective, and to the best of my knowledge, there are important gaps in the documentation of the following DB605 types:
DB605DM (summer '44).
DB605ASB ('45).
DB605ASC ('45).

IMO, these are the engines that lack the most information. They are particularly important because they were used in late versions of the Bf109 that were used in the late war fighting. The DB605DM was the initial equipment of the Bf109K4 but, I believe production of this engine was severely effected by targeted Allied bombing of its production plant. Subsequently, the revised DB605DB/DC came into production in late '44. There are details known for the DB/DC but, I would be happy to hear from anyone with information about those engines and compare notes.
The DB605ASB/ASC are lacking any technical paperwork that I know of.

Finally, I know that there are "Data Sheets" for these engines and other modern descriptions but, the information that I would like to uncover is the original material from '44/'45.
Happy to communicate on this forum or by private message. I will honour any info given in agreed confidence or limited as agreed.
Thanks for any help!

SM

[Snautzer]

Have you seen this?

[Snautzer]

little about asb/asc

[schwarze-man]

Many thanks for those replies Snautzer. Yes, the A.I.2(g) report page is the preamble of a brief description of German engine developments taken in Germany after the war. The information recorded in the rest of the report is interesting but, superficial and incomplete. I think that much of the information in that report has been the basis of many modern writings about the subjects. It is barely a technical document, only in the way that a sales brochure would tell you how to build the engine.
The two "Data sheets" 605ASB/ASC are interesting, in that they are part of large series that crop-up in various sources. They do include some details that are generally useful but, they also contain many mistakes of omission or simply incorrect information. I am unsure where the data sheets were originally compiled? Certainly, some of them do include some correct details that have come from the technical manuals and documents that I would like to trace.
Again, thanks for posting those, there are many similar and much more detailed documents on the web site of the Kurfurst forum. There is a great amount of genuine and important data within his 109 site. However, all the documentation that he has so generously posted for everyone's access does not include the technical documents that I am seeking to uncover.
Many thanks!

SM

[Snautzer]

Seen this?? http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...254#post262254
can/could be found on Deutscheluftwaffe.com as a pdf. If you cant find it, i will upload it

[schwarze-man]

Thanks Snautzer!
Yes, I have the 1941 early version with 1.3/2600 limited performance and the late 1943 full 1.42/2800. The Deutscheluftwaffe.com site is useful for some material. I am still looking for late DB605 technical material, specifically for anything related to 605DM, DB, DC, ASB, ASC, or any 605 material in 1944/45.

Best wishes,

SM

[edwest2]

You could contact Daimler directly.


https://media.daimler.com/marsMediaS...ml?oid=9361697

[schwarze-man]

Originally Posted by edwest2

You could contact Daimler directly.


https://media.daimler.com/marsMediaS...ml?oid=9361697

Thanks edwest. Yes, you would think that this might be a great way forward but my contacts, so far, have not indicated that this is a possibility. I have corresponded with Udo Hafner but, he has had no luck with anything after the late 605A/AS documentation and, I think that all he publishes comes from privately held material. But, I have not tried DB Mercedes directly so, maybe I should try them? Thanks,

SM

[edwest2]

You're welcome. Research is hard to do. But perhaps you can find out if the documents were confiscated by one of the Allies, that they exist in some obscure archive or even a museum collection, or that they 'disappeared' and some appear to be owned by individuals. It's worth a try.


Regards,
Ed

[schwarze-man]

Thanks for the encouragement Ed. Yes, your points are valid. I have done research in the vaults at Rolls-Royce (for RR info!) and, it is amazing what isn't there! I have not actually tried DB so I might try them directly but, I know several people who have tried and drew blanks with the technical manuals. As you say, many other museums and archives can hold such info and, I have much material from Kew and Smithsonian etc. However, the technical material for the DB605A/AS that we have is almost all from private owners. The Motor-Handbuch, Ersatzteilliste, Reparatur Anleitung and production instructions/specifications have not usually come from archives and this is why I am asking here. To illustrate the problem with the later DB technical documents, I will point out that by early 1944 onwards, the technical documents from DB were becoming short and with less illustration. The Motoren Handbuch for the DB 605 DM is referred to directly in the Bf109K-4 Flugzeug-Handbuch (Okt/Nov 1944) but, I do not know of a copy anywhere. If anyone knows of German technical documents with late DB605 info, it would be very interesting to hear from them. Thanks!

SM